ENTERTAINMENT
Inside Home Improvement
Victoria Fink performs ‘Fear Future Husband’ by Megan Trainor on Sunday in the Hanover Junior Idol competition at the Ashland Theatre. Want to know who won? Turn to page 3. Photo: Joel Klein/AshlandHanover Local
Vol. 5 No. 26 | Richmond Suburban News | March 11, 2020
Health director: VDH Democratic chair: monitoring coronavirus party rises at the polls “People who have traveled to places where By Melody Kinser there are many cases of COVID-19 may be Managing Editor SHLAND – Chickahominy monitored by health officials to protect their Health District director Thomas health and the health of other people in the community,” he added. Franck, MD, MPH, said In order to stay up-to-date on Friday that the Virginia travel advisories, Dr. Franck advises Department of Health (VDH) is checking the Centers for Disease monitoring an outbreak of respiratoControl & Prevention’s travel ry illness, called coronavirus disease information page: www.cdc.gov/ 2019 (COVID-19). coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/ Franck, who also serves as the index.html. acting director of the Hampton & “Many community members are Peninsula Health Districts, noted wondering what they can do to stay that COVID-19 is caused by a novel healthy, ” Dr. Franck said. (new) coronavirus. FRANCK “The best way to prevent COVID“Cases of COVID-19 are being 19 is to follow the same steps we reported in a growing number of countries recommend for preventing the flu and other internationally, including the U.S.,” Dr. Franck respiratory infections: said. “The number of states reporting con(1) Avoid close contact with people who firmed cases is growing.” are sick; He said up-to-date information about (2) Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and Virginia is available at VDH’s website: vdh. virginia.gov/coronavirus. see CORONAVIRIS, pg. 4
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By Melody Kinser Managing Editor HANOVER – Hanover County followed suit with the rest of the Commonwealth last week during the Democratic Presidential Primary. As Deputy Registrar Sheilah Ann Frattini said, the March 3 election “went off without a glitch.” Dan McGraw, chair of the Hanover Democratic Committee, said, “Super Tuesday was an example of the Democratic growth in the county. We had a record number of people at the primary in Hanover, far surpassing 2016 by more than 87%.” He said the participation “bodes well for the fall when citizens have the opportunity to vote for positive change. The record number of people going to the polls is a reflection of our overwhelming desire to nominate the best person to defeat Donald Trump.” “I am very grateful for all of our com-
mittee members and volunteers who have been knocking on doors, making phone MCGRAW calls, organizing Meet & Greet events, and donating time and money to grow the Democratic presence in Hanover County,” McGraw continued. “Their efforts have paid off with tremendous turnout.” He said the committee is preparing for the Nov. 3 General Election “through grassroots activism. There are several social and action events every month. Our website is seeing an increase in the number of hits.” “Some people say that Hanover County is experiencing a ‘Blue Wave’, meaning that there is a significant increase in Democrats at the polls. If that is true, then I say, ‘Surfs up!’ ” He said the participation “bodes well for the fall when citizens have the opportunity to see CHAIR, pg. 5
Town’s budget work gets into full swing with input By Jim Ridolphi for Ashland-Hanover Local ASHLAND – The Town of Ashland begins its budget process in earnest with a series of public budget workshops scheduled in the next few weeks to gather public input on the process. “Next Tuesday, we’ll have a full budget work session, and the one after that begins an hour before [Ashland] Town Council,” Town Manger Josh Farrar said last week. “This is a critical time to get citizen input heard,” he continued. “We always want earlier input. It is better than later input so the more you
can tell us now, the better.” Various departments are scheduled to present on those Tuesday sessions, and which ones are slotted for a specific night are listed on the county’s website. The March 10 meeting was scheduled to feature reports on Revenues, Legislative, Town Manager, Finance, Public Works & Capital Projects. Preceding council’s regularly scheduled meeting on March 17, a one-hour budget work session also is planned with an additional workJim Ridolphi/Ashland-Hanover Local
see BUDGET pg. 4
The new Ashland Town Hall is well under construction.